Equine Mind and Body

Recommended Reading - Behaviour

Don't Shoot the Dog - Karen Pryor

Perhaps the most commonly-recommended introduction to behavioural science and one to start with. Compulsory reading for anyone wanting to start clicker training or understand more about how animals (and people) learn. Just a note of caution - some of the examples of negative reinforcement are, errm, punishment.

At the Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell

An excellent introduction to thinking from the perspective of your dog. While this is very much a dog book, there are so many areas of overlap that this should be considered compulsory reading for anyone wanting to learn more about how their horse thinks. Again, this is a good book to start with.

How to Create and Use a Shaping Plan - Ben Hart

Invaluable guide to shaping that should be compulsory reading for anyone wanting to do anything with a horse. An e-book available from Ben's website.

How Dogs Learn - Burch and Bailey

An excellent introduction to behavioural science, covering the historical perspective of both scientists and trainers. It's a dog book but very relevant to horses so don't let that put you off.

The Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson

Another dog book, this time giving a slightly more advanced look at behavioural science. Some great plain speaking! My only caution with this book is that some of it is a little prescriptive, especally the last section - otherwise a very useful book.

The Nature of Horses - Stephen Budiansky

An introduction to academic research into equine behaviour. It can give you a new and fascinating viewpoint from which to regard your horse.

If a Lion Could Talk - Stephen Budiansky

A similar look at academic research into animal behaviour. It debates some of the big questions, such as animal cognition and nature vs. nurture. It is perhaps a little dated now but shows the train of thought which has led us to where we are today.

When Elephants Weep - Jeffrey Masson and Susan McCarthy

An alternative look at the field of animal behaviour and cognition, discussing the traditionally-disregarded emotional side to animal behaviour.

Minding Animals - Marc Bekoff

Another fantastic book which dares to go against the grain of traditional study of animal cognition, discussing emotions and challenging other academics to follow suit.

Psychology of Learning and Behaviour - Barry Schwartz, Steven Robbins and Edward Wasserman

A formal textbook for anyone who really wants to know more about the science.

The Equid Ethogram - Sue McDonnell

A formal catalogue of equine behaviours observed in both feral and domestic horses. Very well-referenced and lots of excellent photographs.

Wild Health - Cindy Engel

An excellent discussion of how animals self-medicate, both in order to maintain health and treat problems. You will never look at your horse's grazing and browsing habits in the same light again!

Talking with Horses / Thinking with Horses / Horse Sense - Henry Blake

A refreshingly honest and (for the period) forward-thinking approach to horse-training, communication and behaviour. He even ventures into the more ethereal subjects of ESP and telepathy. I don't agree with a lot of what he says but I really respect the way he calls punishment punishment, rather than trying to disguise it with flowery language (as is the habit of so many of today's trainers).

Horses Never Lie - Mark Rashid

Mark Rashid has written a number of books and this is the third in the series. I prefer it to the others because it is more "theoretical" and about observing horse behaviour, rather than his own training techniques. His concepts of passive leadership and finding the try are excellent - just make sure you really assess whether the examples he uses put these concepts into practice.

The Road Less Travelled - M. Scott Peck

"Life is difficult." So begins Peck's bestseller, as it takes you on a journey through subjects such as delaying gratification, love and "religion" (i.e. your "map of the world"). This book will help you to question who you are and your motivations for doing what you do. Very relevent to horse-training if you consider (as I do) the horse to be your mirror. Just be warned that you may learn things about yourself you wish you hadn't!

The Invitation / The Dance / The Call - Oriah Mountain Dreamer

A series of books teaching you how you can live your life more fully and learn to become the person you really are. The Dance was my favourite but they should be read in order.

The Horseman Within / Elements of Horsemanship - Ben Hart

Two more e-books available from Ben's website. These look at the more personal elements of horse-training, helping you to put the horse before your ego. Again, you might learn something about yourself that you wish you hadn't (but of course, your horse has known it all along so it's probably best that you catch up!).

On Becoming a Person - Carl Rogers

A more advanced look at human behaviour by the father of the field of person- or client-centred counselling. A fascinating look at the relationship between the therapist (or horse trainer) and the client (or horse).

The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield

A gripping adventure story which leads you to important concepts along the way. Another look at how you can live your life more fully and develop a new-found optimism.

The Alexander Principle - Wilfrid Barlow

I feel that the Alexander Technique and the concept of "end-gaining" have so many parallels with human behaviour and "delaying gratification" that I wanted to include an introductory book on the subject. But of course, becoming more aware of the subtleties of your body language, breathing and posture has vital applications to handling and riding horses too.

Empty Cages - Tom Regan

A highly persuasive book on animal rights - I challenge you to read this book and not feel that you want to make some changes to your lifestyle! But I also like the concept of "Empty Cages" when applied to horsey situations (see articles page).

The Horse's Mind - Lucy Rees

Introduction to the true behaviour and nature of horses in their natural surroundings. Makes you wonder where some of the "dominance-theories" sprung from - real horses just aren't like that! This book is out of print and not easy to find but it's worth persevering.

Equine Behavior - Paul McGreevy

A recently-published textbook for university students. An excellent and in-depth look at behaviour from an academic perspective. Lots of photographs and very well-referenced.

Wild Horses of the Great Basin - Joel Berger

More advanced ethological study of a population of feral horses - one of the seminal works, again showing a view of horses which differs wildly from that often used as the basis for commercial training methods. If you can find a copy hang on to it (and if you find a second copy, please consider selling one of them to me!

And a few novels/films which are also relevant to the subject of behaviour......

Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

A somewhat disturbing exploration of operant conditioning applied to its extremes. Highlights how powerful fear of punishment can be.

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

A somewhat disturbing exploration of the extremes of operant and classical conditioning, although in a different way. Highlights how important it is to treat everyone as an individual when finding reinforcers.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

Both funny and sad, this is a book written from the perspective of a teenager with Asperger's syndrome. It gives such an insight into seeing the world through a different pair of eyes that I think its inclusion in this list is warranted.

Gandhi

A fantastic (if long) film showing some lovely examples of poorly-timed punishment and reinforcement. And of course, Gandhi's message is pretty inspirational too.

A Clockwork Orange

This film is violent and fairly disturbing, but in amongst that there is wonderful choreography, timing and effective punishment/negative reinforcement in action.

Recommended Reading - Shiatsu (and related)

Shiatsu Therapy for Horses - Pamela Hannay

Really useful introduction to equine shiatsu with lots of photographs. Would recommend, however, that if you want to learn to perform shiatsu on your horse, that you attend an introductory course - a book is just no substitute for tuition.

Equine Acupressure - Nancy Zidonis, Amy Snow and Marie Soderberg

Really useful introduction to equine acupressure with lots of diagrams and suggested treatments.

Wood Becomes Water - Gail Reichstein

A great introduction to Five-Element Theory, using examples from acupuncture, nutrition, Qi Gong and Feng Sui. Includes pathologies and the detailed relationships between the elements. Very useful if you are struggling to understand the Creation and Control cycles!

Four Paws, Five Directions - Cheryl Schwartz

Traditional Chinese Medicine for dogs and cats (and much of it is applicable to horses, allowing for obvious differences in anatomy. Very readable and easy to understand, although not a "how to" book (which I see as an advantage!).

Chinese Medicine - Ted Kaptchuk

More advanced manual of Chinese medicine for the serious student.

Recommended Reading - Barefoot Hoofcare

The Natural Horse - Jaime Jackson

Study of American desert-dwelling feral horses, leading into Jackson's natural hoofcare. He recommends you read this book first - there's not so much on feet but interesting from a behaviour point of view.

Horse Owner's Guide to Natural Hoofcare - Jaime Jackson

Useful introduction to the whys and hows of going barefoot. Bear in mind that some of it was written when he was collaborating with Dr. Strasser (particularly if you have an older edition) - some of this is now out of date.....

Making Natural Hoofcare Work for You - Pete Ramey

An excellent guide to going barefoot. Ramey recommends you read the two Jackson books first. Again, some of this book is now out of date but Ramey has an excellent website with updates to his book (see links section).

The Chosen Road - KC La Pierre

Another excellent introduction to going barefoot. La Pierre has a slightly different approach to Jackson and Ramey - I find there are advantages and disadvantages of each so prefer to study both!

The Lame Horse - James Rooney

An excellent study of anatomy, both healthy and pathological.

A Lifetime of Soundness - Hiltrud Strasser

Hmmm, I really hesitate to include this book as I have so many concerns regarding her trim and blanket approach to horse management. Yet it was so pivotal for me, in that it really made me start to see the horse through different eyes. that I would nonetheless recommend reading it. I found the first half particularly useful (provided you remember that all horses should be considered individually); the second half contradicts virtually everyone else (vet, farrier, other barefoot advocates) and you should be careful. It is very readable and persuasive but many of the arguments do not stand up to closer scrutiny. Make sure you always retain your sense of perspective and pinch or few of salt and continue to research other methods.